Page 84 of So Close

Because he wasn’t the only one Beachcrest had changed that week. It had changed her, too. It had proved to her that she was strong and brave and that no one,no onewas going to take away what was hers.

“I got so angry,” Auburn said quietly. “I was so angry at him.”

“Of course you were,” Chiara said. “You were scared. You were scared of being controlled, treated like a child, made small. But no one is ever going to do that to you again, Auburn. You know why not? Because you’re never going to let them.”

Auburn was crying, openly. She could see that some of the other guests at the party were eyeing her curiously, but she didn’t care. She reached for a pile of cocktail napkins and mopped at her face, but it was a lost cause.

“I was never scared of him,” she said wetly.

Chiara shook her head—agreement.

“I was scared of myself. That I wasn’t strong enough to be with someone like him. Or maybe … someone at all.”

“But you don’t have to be scared of that. You never have to be. You’re the strongest person I know. Brave. Persistent. And look at you! You own your own inn.”

“I do,” Auburn said, a smile breaking through.

She just wished—

She wished he were here to celebrate it with her. Because maybe it was the stupidest thing she’d ever thought, but she believed there was at least a chance, a slim chance … that he was the one person who loved Beachcrest as much as she did.

Although maybe …

Maybe it wasn’t Beachcrest he loved.

Maybe—he’d loved her.

And maybe he still did.

Because she still loved him.

And when she loved something, when she wanted something …

She fucking did something about it.

43

“Beachcrest, Auburn speaking.”

On the other end of the line, the caller took a deep breath. “I’d like to make a reservation.”

Her heart pounded, because she knew that voice. Of course she did. She’d know it anywhere. It rumbled against her skin and ruffled the tiny hairs on her neck. It made her whole body sit up and take notice.

But she made herself be calm. And cool.

“Absolutely, sir. How can I help you?”

She hadn’t expected to hear from him. It had been five days since the party, and she’d been busy with her own plans—so this wasunexpected. She didn’t know what it meant.

But she could hope.

“I’m taking some time off from business-building. To explore some other career options and just generally sort out my life. I’ve heard Beachcrest is a good place to do that.”

Her heart was pounding now. Lungs squeezed. He wouldn’t do this to tease. Couldn’t. He had to mean it the way it sounded. “‘Time off from business-building.’ That sounds serious.”

“It’s like a really big vacation. For now. And rumor has it that Beachcrest is the best place to take a vacation and figure things out.”

His voice was low, warm, and it vibrated in all the places he’d touched with his hands, his mouth, his ….

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